Recovery of mating behavior in the female rat following VMH lesions

Vaque, Theodore J. La; Rodgers, Charles H.

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(75)90142-0

Cited by 47 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Studies with c-Fos suggest that many VMHvl neurons, including a subset of PR+ neurons, are activated following female mating (Flanagan-Cato et al, 2006). However, lesions or manipulations of neuronal activity of the VMH can lead to no change, a decrease, or an increase in female sexual behavior (Goy and Phoenix, 1963; Kow et al, 1985; Leedy and Hart, 1985; Mathews and Edwards, 1977a, 1977b; Musatov et al, 2006; Pfaff and Sakuma, 1979a, 1979b; Robarts and Baum, 2007; La Vaque and Rodgers, 1975). Some studies also report a concurrent increase in body weight, suggesting a complex role of this region in feeding and mating (King, 2006; Musatov et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexually Dimorphic Neurons in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus Govern Mating in Both Sexes and Aggression in Males

Yang

Chiang

Gray

et al. 2013

Cell

603

582

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SUMMARY Sexual dimorphisms in the brain underlie behavioral sex differences, but the function of individual sexually dimorphic neuronal populations is poorly understood. Neuronal sexual dimorphisms typically represent quantitative differences in cell number, gene expression, or other features, and it is unknown if these dimorphisms control sex-typical behavior in one sex exclusively or in both sexes. The progesterone receptor (PR) controls female sexual behavior, and we find many sex differences in number, distribution, or projections of PR-expressing neurons in the adult mouse brain. We have ablated one such PR-expressing neuronal population located in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) using a novel genetic strategy. Ablation of these neurons in females greatly diminishes sexual receptivity. Strikingly, the corresponding ablation in males reduces mating and aggression. Our findings reveal the functions of a molecularly-defined, sexually dimorphic neuronal population in the brain. Moreover we show that sexually dimorphic neurons can control distinct sex-typical behaviors in both sexes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexually Dimorphic Neurons in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus Govern Mating in Both Sexes and Aggression in Males

Yang

Chiang

Gray

et al. 2013

Cell

603

582

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…We have recently examined this issue in the VMHvl and linked a molecularly discrete neuronal population to some, but not all, behaviors controlled by this area (Yang et al, 2013). The VMH is molecularly heterogeneous, and neurons within or adjacent to the VMH regulate female sexual behavior, aggression, defensive reactions to predators, and energy balance in diverse animals, including humans (Goy and Phoenix, 1963; Hess and Akert, 1955; Hetherington and Ranson, 1940; King, 2006; Kow et al, 1985; Kruk et al, 1979; Kurrasch et al, 2007; Lin et al,2011; Mathews and Edwards, 1977; Musatov et al, 2007, 2006; Olivier and Wiepkema, 1974; Pfaff and Sakuma, 1979a, 1979b; Reeves and Plum, 1969; Robarts and Baum, 2007; Silva et al, 2013; Swaab, 2003; La Vaque and Rodgers, 1975). Experimental lesions or other manipulations that do not target molecularly distinct neurons within the VMH can yield conflicting behavioral phenotypes (see for example (Kow et al, 1985; Pfaff and Sakuma, 1979a, 1979b; La Vaque and Rodgers, 1975)), presumably reflecting nontargeted manipulation of heterogeneous neurons or fibers of passage within this region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Representing Sex in the Brain, One Module at a Time

Yang

Shah

2014

Neuron

186

182

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Summary Sexually dimorphic behaviors, qualitative or quantitative differences in behaviors between the sexes, result from the activity of a sexually differentiated nervous system. Sensory cues and sex hormones control the entire repertoire of sexually dimorphic behaviors, including those commonly thought to be charged with emotion such as courtship and aggression. Recent studies show that these over-arching control mechanisms regulate distinct genes and neurons that in turn specify the display of such behaviors in a modular manner. How such modular control is transformed into cohesive internal states that correspond to sexually dimorphic behavior is poorly understood. We summarize current understanding of the neural circuit control of sexually dimorphic behaviors from several perspectives, including how neural circuits in general, and sexually dimorphic neurons in particular, can generate sex differences in behavior, and how molecular mechanisms and evolutionary constraints shape these behaviors. We propose that emergent themes such as the modular genetic and neural control of dimorphic behavior are broadly applicable to the neural control of other behaviors.

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“…A common approach in previous studies has been the assessment of female sexual receptivity based on a surrogate marker, lordotic posturing, 12 in relation to male copulatory contact. [12][13][14] The problem with this approach is that in other studies components of these behavioral responses have persisted despite lesioning of the hypothalamus 15 Fa key central site for initiation of neurogenic sexual signalling. 16,17 Furthermore, the definition of this female behavioral response does not require there to be a specific genital manifestation (ie vasocongestive arousal).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for centrally initiated genital vasocongestive engorgement in the female rat: findings from a new model of female sexual arousal response

et al. 2003

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Purpose: In spite of rapidly growing interest, few research tools have been developed to study female sexual dysfunction. Using the D 1 /D 2 agonist, apomorphine (APO), our objective was to develop a new model of the sexual arousal response in female rats based on one previously established for the male condition. Methods: APO (80 lg/kg, s.c.) was given during proestrus (P), estrus (E), metestrus (M), early diestrus (DI) and late diestrus (DII), and in ovariectomized (OVX) female Wistar rats. APO-induced behavioral and genital responses were characterized (30 min) using video monitoring. Results: APO-induced reproducible, periodic morphological changes in the external genitalia. The onset, timing and duration of these female APO responses were consistent with genital vasocongestive arousal (GVA) responses in males (ie erections). APO-induced GVAs occurred throughout the estrous cycle, peaking in E (1.4 7 1.21 overall; 0.9 7 0.64 in DII; 1.8 7 1.66 in E) and were markedly diminished by ovariectomy (OVX, 0.4 7 0.51). Conclusion: APO induced a reproducible sexual arousal response in female rats involving obvious genital vasocongestive engorgement. Further, the findings demonstrate that the APO-induced genital arousal responses are hormonally regulated.

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Recovery of mating behavior in the female rat following VMH lesions

Cited by 47 publications

References 13 publications

Sexually Dimorphic Neurons in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus Govern Mating in Both Sexes and Aggression in Males

Sexually Dimorphic Neurons in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus Govern Mating in Both Sexes and Aggression in Males

Representing Sex in the Brain, One Module at a Time

Evidence for centrally initiated genital vasocongestive engorgement in the female rat: findings from a new model of female sexual arousal response

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